Panel Refers Lawyer To Court For Forging Document

A Greenwich lawyer who said he didn't remember forging a legal document because he was drunk at the time was among 10 lawyers disciplined this month by the Statewide Grievance Committee.

Christopher C. Fountain signed another person's name to an affidavit and then notarized the document with his own name, according to the grievance committee. Fountain conceded violating legal ethics, but said he did not remember signing the document because he was under the influence of alcohol, the committee said.

But the committee concluded that Fountain's use of alcohol had no bearing on his actions, and voted to present the case against the lawyer to a Superior Court judge. In court, Fountain could be cleared, reprimanded, suspended or disbarred.

The Statewide Grievance Committee investigates complaints of misconduct by lawyers. Local panels of two lawyers and one non- lawyer review complaints, hold hearings if they deem them necessary and make recommendations to the agency, which decides whether to discipline the lawyers. The committee can reprimand, or for more serious punishment, present the case to a judge.

Nine lawyers were reprimanded this month. They are:

* Peter V. Berg Jr. of Monroe, who settled a case without telling his client, then charged for his services at a rate of $150 an hour, although he had agreed to charge $60 an hour.

* David M. Wallman of Stamford, who told a client he was pursuing her case, even though he had failed to file a lawsuit and the statute of limitations had run out. Wallman settled a legal malpractice claim with the client, but has fallen behind on his payments, according to the committee.

* Dennis A. Santore of Torrington, who did not have up-to-date financial information during a divorce, which led his client to assume responsibility for a home-equity loan with a balance $17,000 higher than Santore and the client thought.

* Samuel E. Dixon Jr. of New Haven, who accepted a $3,000 retainer from a client without drafting a written fee agreement, and later withdrew from the case without telling the client.

* Francis M. Glynn of Hamden, who failed to tell a client about a judgment against the client until it was too late to appeal.

* Charles P. Difazio of Wethersfield, who missed a court hearing, which led to a credit card company's attaching his client's bank account. Difazio reimbursed the client, but the error damaged her credit rating.

* Maria Luisa de Castro Foden of Hartford, who loaned money to a client and was repaied after the client settled a case. That practice is prohibited in Connecticut.